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Contracts Specialist, Office of Research Services, VP Research

Job ID: 24765
Location: Main Campus
Updated January 27, 2022

This job posting is no longer active.

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We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta.
The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Districts 5 and 6.

Position Overview

The Office of Research Services within VP Research invites applications for a Contracts Specialist. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 1 year (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

As a Contracts Specialist, reporting to the Agreements Manager, you will play a central role in the Legal & IP Division - managing a portfolio of files, drafting agreements, negotiating changes and communicating with faculty members, external funders, external counsel and other internal units, as part of a high-energy team that is expected to produce top-quality results. Contracts Specialists will be required to develop a strong understanding of the University's mission/goals and how this role supports that vision.

The Legal & Intellectual Property (IP) Division in Research Services plays a vital role in the research process at the University, helping University faculty members prepare, negotiate and finalize research agreements with industry, governments, and other funding agencies. With over 200 active files at any given time, the Legal Unit is under constant pressure to provide a high level of customer service and to complete work in a timely and professional manner.

The purpose of this position is to negotiate the creation of new agreements with external partners to facilitate the establishment of new research projects for University faculty members. With a high degree of independence and minimal supervision, this role will formulate the best structure for each transaction between the Governors of the University of Calgary and an external entity, develop a negotiation strategy and finalize the agreement to meet both near- and long-term objectives of the University, its faculty members and the external partners.

Position Description

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Agreements and Negotiations

  • Manage all steps in the research agreement process, from information gathering, strategy development, drafting agreements, revising, negotiation, communication with external counsel and obtaining signatures with minimal supervision;
  • Accountable for the content in agreement, and will interpret content, propose alternate language, and determine when necessary to engage Agreements Manager or internal Legal Counsel;
  • Identify and work to minimize legal and reputational risks to the University and its staff/faculty members;
  • Independently manage conflict and balance the competing interests of faculty members, external partners and the University under constant time pressure;
  • Direct faculty members on the most suitable strategy and persuading external partners to follow such strategy for completing transactions.

Communication

  • Develop and maintain long-term, trustworthy and productive working relationships with all stakeholders, including University faculty members, University departments, and external sponsors. This may require leading one-on-one meetings with faculty members or making group presentations to other departments;
  • Mentorship and guidance of students and new members of the team will be expected;
  • Participate in long-range planning for the Legal Unit, taking an active role in improvement of workflow and internal procedures.

Policy and Program Interpretation

  • Develop a strong understanding and ability to interpret and apply University policies governing research and commercialization;
  • Act as information resource on University policies to both internal and external stakeholders;
  • Understand, interpret, and help faculty members comply with operating procedures for a wide array of government grant programs.

Qualifications / Requirements:

  • Undergraduate degree will be preferred, but will consider a combination of extensive work experience demonstrating the core abilities above and education.
  • Specialized training in contract management or negotiation will be considered an asset.
  • Minimum of 5 years of specialized work experience in a professional environment supporting legal transactions or in a contract management role, but a combination of education and work experience drawing upon negotiation and problem-solving skills will be considered.
  • Experience working in a major University will be an asset.
  • Exhibits a professional, client-oriented attitude combined with proven ability to work as part of a team will be considered extremely valuable.
  • A strong working knowledge of MSOffice Suite and comfort with database use is required.

Application Deadline:  January 11, 2022

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

Additional Information

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase III.

To find out more about management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Management and Staff Careers website

COVIDSafe Campus Strategy

The University has implemented a new Vaccination Directive that requires all faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 1, 2022. You will be required to upload proof of vaccination prior to commencing your duties. Please review the COVIDSafe Campus website for further information and access to additional resources.

 

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their professional success while they are here. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

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